Java StringBuilder class

Java StringBuilder class is used to create mutable (modifiable) string. The Java StringBuilder class is same as StringBuffer class except that it is non-synchronized. It is available since JDK 1.5.

Important Constructors of StringBuilder class

Constructor	Description
StringBuilder()	creates an empty string Builder with the initial capacity of 16.
StringBuilder(String str)	creates a string Builder with the specified string.
StringBuilder(int length)	creates an empty string Builder with the specified capacity as length.

Important methods of StringBuilder class

Method	Description
public StringBuilder append(String s)	is used to append the specified string with this string. The append() method is overloaded like append(char), append(boolean), append(int), append(float), append(double) etc.
public StringBuilder insert(int offset, String s)	is used to insert the specified string with this string at the specified position. The insert() method is overloaded like insert(int, char), insert(int, boolean), insert(int, int), insert(int, float), insert(int, double) etc.
public StringBuilder replace(int startIndex, int endIndex, String str)	is used to replace the string from specified startIndex and endIndex.
public StringBuilder delete(int startIndex, int endIndex)	is used to delete the string from specified startIndex and endIndex.
public StringBuilder reverse()	is used to reverse the string.
public int capacity()	is used to return the current capacity.
public void ensureCapacity(int minimumCapacity)	is used to ensure the capacity at least equal to the given minimum.
public char charAt(int index)	is used to return the character at the specified position.
public int length()	is used to return the length of the string i.e. total number of characters.
public String substring(int beginIndex)	is used to return the substring from the specified beginIndex.
public String substring(int beginIndex, int endIndex)	is used to return the substring from the specified beginIndex and endIndex.

StringBuilder Method Usage

Let's see the examples of different methods of StringBuilder class.

1) StringBuilder append() method

The StringBuilder append() method concatenates the given argument with this string.

Example #1

snippet

class StringBuilderExample{
public static void main(String args[]){
StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder("Hello ");
sb.append("Java");//now original string is changed
System.out.println(sb);//prints Hello Java
}
}

2) StringBuilder insert() method

The StringBuilder insert() method inserts the given string with this string at the given position.

Example #2

snippet

class StringBuilderExample2{
public static void main(String args[]){
StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder("Hello ");
sb.insert(1,"Java");//now original string is changed
System.out.println(sb);//prints HJavaello
}
}

3) StringBuilder replace() method

The StringBuilder replace() method replaces the given string from the specified beginIndex and endIndex.

Example #3

snippet

class StringBuilderExample3{
public static void main(String args[]){
StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder("Hello");
sb.replace(1,3,"Java");
System.out.println(sb);//prints HJavalo
}
}

4) StringBuilder delete() method

The delete() method of StringBuilder class deletes the string from the specified beginIndex to endIndex.

Example #4

snippet

class StringBuilderExample4{
public static void main(String args[]){
StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder("Hello");
sb.delete(1,3);
System.out.println(sb);//prints Hlo
}
}

5) StringBuilder reverse() method

The reverse() method of StringBuilder class reverses the current string.

Example #5

snippet

class StringBuilderExample5{
public static void main(String args[]){
StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder("Hello");
sb.reverse();
System.out.println(sb);//prints olleH
}
}

6) StringBuilder capacity() method

The capacity() method of StringBuilder class returns the current capacity of the Builder. The default capacity of the Builder is 16. If the number of character increases from its current capacity, it increases the capacity by (oldcapacity*2)+2. For example if your current capacity is 16, it will be (16*2)+2=34.

Example #6

snippet

class StringBuilderExample6{
public static void main(String args[]){
StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder();
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//default 16
sb.append("Hello");
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//now 16
sb.append("java is my favourite language");
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//now (16*2)+2=34 i.e (oldcapacity*2)+2
}
}

7) StringBuilder ensureCapacity() method

The ensureCapacity() method of StringBuilder class ensures that the given capacity is the minimum to the current capacity. If it is greater than the current capacity, it increases the capacity by (oldcapacity*2)+2. For example if your current capacity is 16, it will be (16*2)+2=34.

Example #7

snippet

class StringBuilderExample7{
public static void main(String args[]){
StringBuilder sb=new StringBuilder();
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//default 16
sb.append("Hello");
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//now 16
sb.append("java is my favourite language");
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//now (16*2)+2=34 i.e (oldcapacity*2)+2
sb.ensureCapacity(10);//now no change
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//now 34
sb.ensureCapacity(50);//now (34*2)+2
System.out.println(sb.capacity());//now 70
}
}